This is another book I read while on the boat at the end of last month. It unfortunately won't be as detailed as I want. I will be writing my review for Shadow and Bone as soon as I finish it.
Pre Reading
Ashley's Pre Reading
I really enjoyed this book. It was another dystopian YA novel with a female protagonist, but it was done well. I loved the two worlds Rossi created. There were so many interesting parallels between them. I liked how Aria's world pretty much lived within a virtual reality. It was an interesting commentary on social media, chatrooms, and cell phones. They have access directly from their eyepiece.
The outside world was also rich, full of people who had to work hard and develop skills to survive. The special abilities were also interesting.
There were many interesting secondary characters. I am looking forward to seeing them more in the sequels.
The romance aspect was annoying until the main characters acknowledged it.
I am looking forward to Through the Ever Night. I give this book a strong 4/5. I recommend it to anyone who likes the dystopian trend in YA. This is a must read!
-PAUL
This was Ashley's October 2011 pick...
Yes, I finally read it. Ashley didn't post about it until the end of November, so I don't feel completely bad. Thankfully, I didn't wait a whole year.
Ashley's Pre Reading
Ashley's Review
Title: The Gates
Author: John Connolly
Year Published: 2009
This book has a similar feel to The Hitchhiker's Guide. It is intelligent, witty, and comical. The footnotes, that can be found throughout the book, at first annoyed me. I felt they took me away from the story, but by the end of the book there are far fewer footnotes and I found myself missing them.
I am glad I read this in less than two days. I don't know if I would have been able to hold out if I had read just a chapter a day. The first half of the book feels so random. Many different characters are introduced who seem to have no relevance to each other. I enjoyed each of their broad background stories, but it seemed too extensive at the time. By the end of the book, all the pieces come together but it was difficult to get there.
There was just enough hard science mixed with demonology and fantasy/sci-fi. In my head, the visual for this book resembled a 90s movie with bad special effects.
My favorite part of the book was the characterization of the nicer demons: Nurd, the one under the bed, and the lake monster. I thought they were interesting and well developed.
I would recommend this book for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide series to read close to Halloween.I give this novel a 3/5. I don't think I will be looking for the sequel anytime soon.
-PAUL
Title: Eona
Author: Alison Goodman
Year Published: 2011
Synopsis: Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon.
Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans....
Why?: I read the first book in the duology, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn a while back. I was interested in how the story continues, and have been waiting for Paul to this book so we could finish the series.
Expectations: I expect this book to be more epic than the first. Eona is trying to embrace her womanhood, and I expect her to have some issues dealing with that and trying to overcome everything she was taught. I think there will also be some problems with the dragons, since most of the Dragoneyes are dead. I also expect the story to be wrapped up in this novel, since there aren't any more books in the series. Oh, and long chapters. Even though I hope they aren't as long as they were in Eon, I think they'll still be longer than I like.
Judging a book by its cover: A girl, who I assume to be Eona, stands facing an entire army with just two swords. I feel like there will be an epic battle, and only Eona will be able to fight. Perhaps she can summon her dragon to help her (although it's said that Dragoneyes cannot use their power for war), or maybe she can only use those two swords to fight. Either way, the cover is epic and I expect the story to be epic as well.
--Ashley
Title: Witch Song
Author: Amber Argyle
Year Published: 2011
Synopsis: The world is changing.
Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fades, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna.
Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her.
Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.
Why?: This book was free for Amazon Kindle for a little bit, and I'm always up for reading a free book. It's pretty much a win-win situation. Plus, it sounds very interesting. I'm intrigued by the idea of the seasons and nature being controlled (like in Eon: Dragoneye Reborn), and I don't think this will disappoint.
Expectations: I've never read anything by this author, and I haven't heard much about this book, but I'm expecting a nice story about an inexperienced witch taking on a powerful traitor in an effort to save the world.
Judging a book by its cover: The cover has a girl on it, and not much else. I assume that's supposed to be Brusenna, and that the story will revolve around her.
--Ashley
Title: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: 15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily.
Soon, she is risking everything - her family, her future - to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When - as a punishment for her rebellious ways - she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.
With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.
Why?: I love re-tellings of old stories, and well known stories told from different perspectives or about minor characters rewritten as main characters. I've also always been intrigued by Tiger Lily - why is Peter Pan so attached to her? Who even is she? Where does she come from? I've heard such good reviews about this book that I figured I should give it a shot.
Expectations: I expect this to be different from every story of Peter Pan currently out there. I think Wendy will be present, but only a little bit. I expect, and I hope, that Tiger Lily will be given more depth, and that it will easier to relate to her character than it has been in the current versions of the story of Peter Pan.
Judging a book by its cover: I think this cover is gorgeous. I love that it looks like a fairy (maybe Tinker Bell?), but like a flower at the same time. The orange and black remind me of a tiger lily.
--Ashley
Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.
Why?: The fantasy aspect of this book attracts me. I have also seen soem good reviews on it. It also has a cover that brings you in. I peaked into the book and the map at the front is also very intresting. The demonlike drawing are kind of creepy.
Expectations: I expect this to be a fantasy story with an empowered female lead who has magical abilities. I'm expecting a very interesting world as well.
Judging a book by its cover: I really like this cover. There is smoke and what may be antlers or tree branches. The colors are contrasting and the castle tops at the bottom of the cover interest me.
-PAUL
My Pre-Reading
Paul's Review
I read this a while ago, and completely forgot to write the review. So, I apologize if it's shorter or not as in depth as normal.
As You Wish is Jackson Pearce's first published novel, and I thought it was a very strong debut with great characters and an interesting plot. I really liked the idea that if you're miserable enough and wish hard enough, a Jinn (basically a genie) will be summoned from another world to grant you three wishes.
I found everything about the Jinn and Caliban to be fascinating, and definitely always wanted to know more. The idea of a perfect city with citizens who never age, and the idea that everything (even down to the colors of the flowers being delivered) has some sort of meaning made me wish that there was actually a real place like Caliban. Or that elements of it were present in this world.
I felt like Pearce really created a complex, real character in Viola. Her problems, her wants, her needs, and everything about her seemed so genuine that I felt like I knew her just bey reading this book. I also really liked the her ex-boyfriend Lawrence was her best friend and her ex only because he was gay. Lawrence really cared for Viola, and it was evident throughout the whole book. Everything he does is to try to keep her together, and even though he can't be the one to put her back together, he wants to find someone who can, or wants her to be able to do it herself.
The relationship between Viola and Jinn is predictable, but I don't think it's forced. It happens gradually, and Jinn is forced to change his whole perspective on life. I really liked that Viola helps Jinn to see things differently, but Jinn also helps Viola to see that she's still whole, even if she doesn't feel like it.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute teen romance, or any fan of Jackson Pearce's other works. A strong 4/5 on this one. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Pearce's works!
--Ashley
